Tribhuvan University Central Campus Free Student Union Chairman Files Lawsuit Against Representation Removal

Kathmandu. Deepakraj Joshi, Chairman of the Tribhuvan University (TU) Central Campus Free Student Union (FSU) and University Council member, has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court against the provision of removing FSU representation, and the court has issued a short-term interim order.

In the petition filed under writ registration number 01-082-04554 (082-WO-1421) in the nature of a mandamus, the Supreme Court, after preliminary hearing, has issued a show-cause order in the name of the respondents and ordered both parties to appear for a discussion on the interim order.

Petitioner Joshi has argued that the provision to remove the elected representation of the FSU in the University Council through an ordinance is contrary to the constitution, democratic values and norms, and the principle of university autonomy.

The writ has made the Office of the Council of Ministers, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Tribhuvan University, and other bodies as respondents.

The writ petition claims that removing the FSU Chairman from office based on an ordinance while their term is still valid is contrary to the principles of rule of law and judicial expectation, as the FSU Chairman is a statutory and elected representative of the university.

It has also demanded that the relevant provisions of the ordinance and the decisions and correspondence issued based on them be quashed and the previous representation be reinstated.

With the Supreme Court's short-term interim order, further legal debate will take place on this matter. The court will issue further orders after the upcoming hearing regarding whether to continue the interim order or not.